Cleanser device



-Feb. 8, 1938. R. B. KINGMAN 2,107,636

CLEANSER DEVICE Filed July 20, 1935 INVENTOR aseZZ ny/warg. BY

79 ATTO Rw- Patented Feb. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE.

cLEANsEa DEVICE Russell B. Kingman, Orange, N. J., assignor to MetalTextile Corporation, West Orange, N. J.,

a corporation of Delaware Application July 20, 1935, Serial No. 32,347

2 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in cleanser devices;and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel handimplement for general Washing and cleaning operations, such as shown inmy prior Patent No. 2,026,638, datedJanuary '7, 1936,r which discloses aforaminous resilient body having portions of its surface area coveredwith metallic mesh.

The invention has for an object to provide a cleanser device comprisinga hollow resilient porous body, such, for example, as provided by spongerubber, the interior of which is filled with a mass of fibrous materialalone or treated with a saponaceous substance, or with any Asuitableform of saponaceous substance alone or in combination with a carriertherefor, or mixed with other ingredients calculated to contribute tocleansing or other effects by which the device is desired to befunctionally characterized; said body also including elements adapted toeffect an abrasive or scouring action upon the surfaces to which it isapplied when conducting a cleaning operation.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time `more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

Illustrativeembodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a face. view of one form of the cleanser device according tothis invention, showing the same provided with a facing of metallic meshfabric to serve as a scouring or scraping medium; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view of a modified form of this type of cleanerdevice.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing, the novel cleanser device according to thisinvention is shown therein to comprise a suitably shaped hollow body oi'resilient porous material, 4such e. g. as sponge rubber. In one form, asshown in Figs. 1 and'2, the hollow body comprises a hollow or chamberedupper section ,I0 providing an interior chamber Il, and a bottom sectionI2 suitably secured to` said upper section Ill in closing relation tosaid chamber Il. Owing to the interstitial or highly porous character ofthe hollow body, its walls are pervious to liquids. Enclosed within thehollow body, so as to ll the interior thereof, is a mass l of fibrous orillamentar'y material i3. This filler mass while more or less compactedis, nevertheless. yieldable or resilient, and consequently suitablysupports or backs the walls of the hollow body when the same is appliedto a surface to be cleaned;l and, in fact, the body, due to its ownresilient character and that of the filler mass therein, will readilyconform itself to the contours .3 of the surface to which it is appliedand pressed, and over which it is rubbed. when employed in cleaning suchsurface. The filler mass i3 may comprise any suitable material; forexample, wood shavings, excelsior. vegetable fiber, or a mass of 1uillamentary material of any other specific character may be employed.

It will be obvious that in the use of the device, in the simple formabove described, and owing to the pervious character of its body and ofthe filler l5 mass contained therein, that the same will take up andthen emit during cleaning operations therewith, any desired cleansingliquid. such, forv example, as soapy water, cleaning oils, or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the 2U filler mass compriseswoody or other preferably absorbent fibrous material which isimpregnated. at the time of manufacture of the device, with a suitablesaponaceous material; the filler mass in such case serves as a carrierfor the saponaceous 25 substance, and consequently, when the device iswetted preparatory to use, the liquid will enter and contact with thesaponaceous substance carried by the filler mass to form a soapy mixturewhich will be expressed from the device as it is 3u rubbed over asurface desired to be cleansed.

If desiredthe bottom section of the device, instead of being made ofinterstitial or porous material, such as sponge rubber. may comprise avulcanized mass of rubber filled or impregnated with 35 a pulverantabrasive material, such e. g. as powdered emery, carborundum, pumicestone, or thev like, as indicated at i5 in Fig. 3. The bottom section I5thus provided may be vulcanized directly to the sponge rubber uppersection l in 40 closing relation to the interior chamber Il thereof,thereby assuring a secure and irremovable relation of the one to theother.

As also shown in the drawing, a metallic mesh fabrici6 is applied over'the top and around the 45 sides of the upper section I 0 of the device.This mesh 'fabric i6 is preferably of a knitted formation, produced fromflat ribbon-like wire or strand, although other cross-sectional shapesof the wire or strand may be employed. It is also preferable that thewire or strand employed in the production of the mesh fabric be of asubstantially non-corrosive metal, such e. g. as zinc, copper orAaluminum. The free marginal portions Il of the metallic mesh fabric IIare turned under 'upon the mesh marginal portions Il, so that the meshfabric i6 will not loosen from its enveloping relation to the exteriorsurfaces of the upper section l0 of the device when the latter issubjected to the strains of use. In utilizing the thus modified form ofcleanser device, the foraminous body sections and its filler mass may bewetted to exude a saponaceous cleaning liquid when rubbed over a surfaceto be cleaned, while at the same time its mesh faced areas, beingresiliently backed by the body of the device, will be firmly pressedagainst and in conforming relation to said surface, so that, as thedevice is rubbed back and forth upon the latter, the edges of themetallic loops of the mesh will exert a strong scraping effect, wellcalculated to loosen and scrape away encrusted and caked dirt and soil;especially is this so;when the wire of the mesh is of fiat ribbon-likeor otherv angular cross-sectional form, since, in such case, sharpchisel-like edges are presented in various directions which assure ahighly emcient scraping action.

It will be understood that further'V modifications of the specie detailsof construction and form, other than those already indicated, may

l. A cleaner device comprising a resiliently compressible hollow bodyadapted to enclose eX- pressible saponaceous material, portions of thebody wall being made of sponge rubber through which saponaeeous materialmay be expressed, and a metallic mesh secured to said body in externallyoverlying relation to the sponge rubber wall portions thereof.

2. A cleaner device comprising a resilientlycompressible hollow bodyadapted to enclose expressible saponaceous material, portions of thewall body being made of sponge rubber through which saponaceous materialmay be expressed, and an abrasive mesh of knitted ribbon-like metallicwire secured to said body in externally overlying relation .to thesponge rubber wall portions thereof.

' RUSSELL B. KINGMAN.

